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No. 6|8,699. Patented Jan. 3|, I899.

F. m. LONG & E. SCHATTNER. PREPAYMENT ELECTRIC METER.

(Application filed July 18, 1898.) (N o M o d a I.)

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FRANCIS MADDISON LONG AND ERNEST SOHATTNER, OE NORlVIOI-I,

ENGLAND.

PREPAYM ENT ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,699, dated January31, 1899.

Application filed July 18, 1893. Serial No. 686,248. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS lVIADDISON LONG and ERNEST SOI-IATTNER,subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Norwich, in thecounty of Norfolk, England, have invented a certain new and usefulImprove- 1n ent in Prepayment Electric Meters, of which the following isa specification.

Our invention relates to a certain improvement in prepayment electricmeters or electric meters of the class controlled by the insertion of acoin or coins which places oertain parts of the apparatus in position toallow a current to pass through the same for a given period of timeonly.

In carrying out our invention we utilize the principle that a currentgoing through a voltameter deposits on one plate of same from the othera quantity of metal exactly proportionate to the strength of the currentby causing one plate to be carried by a balanced arm which isoverbalanced by the weight of the coin or coins, so as to make anelectrical contact, whereby a current will pass through the voltameteruntil a certain amount has been deposited from or on the plate carriedby the arm onto or from a fixed plate, with the result that the plate socarried is lightened or made heavier and the arm rises, thus breakingthe circuit, or the voltameter is otherwise effected, according to itsnature, the arm in any case being operated thereby.

One form of apparatus constructed according to our invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is an elevation showingthe main or principal features of such an apparatus. 7

On a suitable back or base a and properly insulated is an arm or lever6, supported by a suitable knife-edge or the like situated slightlybelow the center of gravity of the lever, so that the lever is inunstable equilibrium and remains over-balanced either on one side or theother. The knife-edge or the like is carried on the block a, anddirectly above and attached tothe lever is a rod d, having a Weight atthe end which assists in overbalancing the lever. At one end the levercarries a screw (2, provided with a nut or weight f, by which thebalance of the lever may be adjusted, and also a rod g, preferablysuspended to it on a knife-edge and carrying weights h. A stop 1',secured to the base, serves to check the downward movement of the arm.On the other side of the block 0 is a receptacle j for the coins,preferably suspended on aknife-edge in the lever, as shown, and fartheralong the arm and on the same side of the pivoting-point as thereceptacle j is suspended a rod 7t, adapted to carry weights Z,representing a certain number of coins. This rod is also preferably hungon a knifeedge. At the extreme end is hung the positive electrode m ofthe voltameter msuch electrode being also preferably carried byaknifeedge in some suitable way. The negative electrode 0 is fixed insome suitable Way. As shown, it is attached to the base a at point p.The electrodes maybe of copper, in which case the solution will be alsoa copper one. The lever also carries ator about the same end acontact-maker of some suitable form. As shown, it consists of a U-shapedor bifurcated strip q,suitably insulated from the lever, the ends ofsuch strip dipping into mercurycups 0" s, the former of which is aterminal of the main wire 25 and the latter a terminal of wires to anda, the first of which leads through resistance 1; to the main terminalto and the latter leads to the fixed plate 0 of the voltameter throughpoint p, and a connection is provided from the suspended platem throughthe lever b to the block 0 and thence by the wire a and resistance 1)also to the main terminal 10.

The operation is as follows: The lever is to start with justoverbalanoed and the contact-makerq-is out of the mercury of the cups rs and the circuit is broken. Upon a coin or coins being dropped into thereceptacle j the lever is overbalanced at that side and thecontact-maker is placed in the mercury of the cups, as shown in thedrawing. The current entering at terminal w divides, part passingthrough resistance '0', wire 10 block 0, lever 1), positive electrode mto negative electrode 0, out by terminal 19, wire a, to mercury-cup s,contact-maker q, cup r, and out, and part going through resistance 0 andwire a and joining the other circuit at cup 3. Copper from electrode mis thus deposited on 0 proportionately to the current being used,and assoon as electrode m is sufficiently lightened the lever b will rise andbe again overbalanced and the contact-maker g be removed from themercury, so that the circuit is broken until another coin or coins isinserted in the receptaole.

The rod 7a is adapted to carry disks or weights equal to a certainnumber of coins, one or more of which weights can be placed thereon bythe collector to balance the coins takenfrom the receptacle.

It will be understood that the particular arrangement of the apparatusmay be varied without departing from our invention. For instance,instead of restoring or putting the parts in working position by placinga coin in a receptacle which directly overbalances the lever the coinmay be caused to move a weight or allow a Weight to be moved along thelever, the lever being graduated if necessary, or to vary the weight onthe lever or the like.

It should also be understood that with the apparatus herein describedthere may be used a suitable counting and registering device which willindicate the number of coins inserted, as well as suitable means forpreventing the withdrawal of coins or the insertion of improperarticles, if deemed necessary, all of such arrangements being of aWell-known character.

What we claim is- 1. In a prepayment electric meter and in combination,alever, a circuit, a contact-makin g device in the same operated by thelever, means controlled by a coin for moving the lever and making thecontact, a voltameter, the passage of the current through which willraise the lever and break the contact, and means connecting thevoltameter and the lever, substantially as described.

2. In a prepayment electric meter and in combination, a pivoted weightedlever, a circuit, a contact-making device in the same operated by thelever, means controlled by a coin for moving the lever and making thecontact, a voltameter, and an electrode of the same carried by the leverand which electrode the passage of the current will alter the weight of,and so allow the lever to be raised and break the circuit substantiallyas described.

3. In a prepayment electric meter and in combination, a balanced lever,a voltameter, an electrode of same carried by said lever, a circuit, acontact-maker in the same carried by the lever, a receptacle for coinson the lever, and a compensating device also on the lever to balance thecoins removed, substantially as described.

4. In a prepayment electric meter and in combination, a pivoted lever,means for controlling the balance of same on one side of the pivotpoint,a coin-receptacle on the other side, a compensating device for the coinsremoved, on the same side as the coin-receptacle, a voltameter, anelectrode of same suspended to the lever, the weight of which is alteredby the passage of the current so that the balance of the lever isdisturbed and an insulated contact-maker carried by the lever,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS MADDISON LONG.

ERNEST SOHATTNER.

lVitnesses:

RICHARD IIoLMEs, RICHARD BALE.

